Sony NEX-5N
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Released October 2011
- Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
- Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
89 Imaging
56 Features
69 Overall
61
Sony NEX-5N overview
Sony NEX-5N is Sony's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera first launched on October of 2011. The camera features a 16MP, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4912 x 3264.
Sony introduced this camera to upgrade the previous Sony NEX-5 (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards brought out the updated Sony NEX-5R (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to upgrade this model.
The NEX-5N is scored #60 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & all around #304 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can check out our Advanced camera filter to get camera ratings based on your personal requirements.
The following is a diagram of specific criteria used in the scoring system.
Sony NEX-5N family
The Sony NEX-5N has a history of related cameras. Below, you can check out all earlier and new models as well as key features.
Sony NEX-5N Gallery
You can check the NEX-5N from various angles in the gallery here.
Sony NEX-5N Pros and Cons
Below is a shortlist of good and bad points of the Sony NEX-5N based on criterias which are usually seen as essential in a camera.
Sony NEX-5N Sensor specifications
The Sony NEX-5N features the Bionz chip. The size of the sensor on the Sony NEX-5N is 23.4mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 365 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 4912 x 3264 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and includes a native ISO range of 100 to 25600. RAW files are supported therefore the user has wider room to maneuver in post.
The image underneath displays the NEX-5N's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The NEX-5N sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is displayed in green.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoTo get a sense of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.
Sony NEX-5N dimensions
Sony NEX-5N weighs about 0.59 lb (269 gr or 9.49 oz) & has outer dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5"). The weight of general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 gr and the Sony NEX-5N is lighter when compared to other rivals.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsDown below is a image of the Sony NEX-5N next to a soft drink so you're able to get a sense of its scale.
The top view just below will show the button arrangement on the NEX-5N.
Sony NEX-5N Lens specifications
The NEX-5N fits the Sony E mount and has 170 lenses available. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our collection which will work with the NEX-5N.
Sony NEX-5N Connectivity
The NEX-5N has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that consist of NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You can send photos and sometimes change settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.
Many applications even allow a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external screen. The majority of cameras enable you to recharge the battery using the USB socket.
Sony NEX-5N Video specifications
The highest video quality on the Sony NEX-5N is 1920 x 1080 and you can shoot in AVCHD format. 1080p quality will provide a decent balance in quality versus file sizes but FULL HD is not going to give you any room to crop. The camera doesn't include a microphone or headphone jack which means that you have got little control over the audio. It is perhaps best to order an alternative model if you want decent audio for your video clips.
Sony NEX-5N Weather Sealing
There is no weather sealing in the Sony NEX-5N so you need to be cautious in wet and dusty conditions.
Sony NEX-5N Display and Viewfinder
The Sony NEX-5N features a 3" tilting display supporting a resolution of 920k dots.
Moreover the display is touch friendly which means you are able to switch focus points as well as adjust settings by using your fingers.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe ViewFinder details for Sony NEX-5N are as follows:
- ViewFinder Electronic (optional)
Viewfinders are pretty useful in sunny outdoor conditions which can make the camera display washed out and hard to see.
Sony NEX-5N Shutter specifications
Sony NEX-5N continuous shooting rate is 10.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.
Sony NEX-5N Flash and Hot shoe specifications
Sony NEX-5N features external flash ability but with missing integrated flash. The max flash sync is 1/160 seconds.
Sony NEX-5N Autofocusing specifications
Sony NEX-5N features just Contrast Detect Autofocus & is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more faster and exact when compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera features Face detect making it helpful for taking photos of people.
The Sensor features 25 focus points to choose from. Sony NEX-5N has tap to focus. You can use your fingers to shift focus points. Sony NEX-5N has the ability to use manual focus if required in low light or you require more accurate focus control.
Sony NEX-5N Battery life
The battery power (NPFW50) in the Sony NEX-5N is built to last for 460 shutters based on the CIPA benchmarks making it higher than the usual in comparison to its class. The typical Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has got the highest (750) battery life in this range of cameras.
Below is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras with the highest battery life:
Sony NEX-5N for varying categories of photography
The following bar chart displays a analysis of the Sony NEX-5N for varying categories of photography. To learn more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography details
The Sony NEX-5N receives a points total of 73 which is above average, meaning that it is a fine pick for portrait photography. Photographing portrait images favors heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW files along with the potential to utilize external flash.
Sony NEX-5N Street photography highlights
Getting a wonderful points total of 80, the Sony NEX-5N is a brilliant pick for street photography. A very good street photography camera comes with a fine balance of image quality and portability.
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography factors
A modest sports photography score of 58 indicates the Sony NEX-5N is reasonably suited for shooting sports. A camera really should have good tracking plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
Portability is super crucial when buying a camera for travel. In general, the Sony NEX-5N gets a nice 70 as a travel camera which is a respectable option for your trips.
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
For anyone who is planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape photography, the most critical factor will no doubt be image quality. The Sony NEX-5N and it's above average grade of 71 as a landscape camera is a respectable pick within the current marketplace.
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging information
A vlogging camera ought to offer a articulating display screen, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Considering all the details, the Sony NEX-5N is simply not good for vlogging as it gets a lousy score of 33.
Sony NEX-5N Alternatives
If you are trying to find alternatives to the NEX-5N, below is a list of the highest rated cameras which fall in to the family of Entry-Level Mirrorless.
The line graph underneath will give you a summary of the NEX-5N compared to it's top scored competitors suggested earlier.
These are some more cameras you might have a look at as alternate options. To review a thorough comparison, simply click the "compare" link.